Refrigerated beverage dispenser provided with a sanitizing device

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a refrigerated beverage dispenser, specifically designed for delivering fruit juicies, tea, mineral water, wine and the like, which comprises an inlet ( 1 ) for water or drink to be delivered, downstream of which is arranged a refrigerating device ( 2 ). On the delivering duct a pump ( 3 ) and a solenoid valve ( 4 ), controlled by a central processing unit ( 10 ), are applied. Moreover, a sanitizing auxiliary device ( 30 ), controlled by said central processing unit ( 10 ) is also provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerated beverage dispenser for delivering fruit juices, tea, mineral water, wine and the like.

[0002] Prior beverage automatic dispensing devices are already known which, however, are very complex construction wise and are not suitable to provide a homogeneous delivering of beverages, which can be either prepared before or at the time of the delivering operation, by using a concentrated product.

[0003] Furthermore, prior beverage delivering device do not provide optimum hygienic characteristics, mainly at the delivering outlets or spouts, which are exposed to people.

SUMMARY OF TEE INVENTION

[0004] Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned, drawbacks, by providing a refrigerated beverage dispenser, specifically designed for delivering fruit juices, tea, mineral water, wine and the like, which is very practical from an operation standpoint and which is suitable to deliver either already prepared beverages, or beverages which are prepared at the delivering time, by using a concentrated product.

[0005] Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the invention is to provide such a beverage delivering device which is suitable to provide very high hygienic characteristics, and which can be periodically hygienized or sanitized at the delivering nozzle provided for delivering the beverages.

[0006] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a refrigerated beverage dispenser which is very reliable and safe in operation.

[0007] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a refrigerated beverage dispenser which can be easily made starting from easily available materials and elements and which, moreover, is very competitive from a mere economic standpoint.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a refrigerated beverage dispenser, specifically designed for delivering fruit juices, tea, mineral water, wines and the like, characterized in that said dispenser comprises an inlet for a beverage to be delivered or water, downstream of which is arranged a refrigerating device and that, on a delivering duct, are applied a central processing unit controlled pump and solenoid valve, an auxiliary hygienizing device, controlled by said central processing unit being moreover provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of a refrigerated beverage dispenser, specifically designed for delivering fruit juices, tea, mineral water, wine and the like, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative example, of the figures of the accompanying drawings, where:

[0010]FIG. 1 illustrates an operating diagram of the refrigerating beverage dispenser according to the present invention; and

[0011]FIG. 2 illustrates an operating diagram of a refrigerated beverage dispenser suitable to mix the products.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, and, more specifically to FIG. 1, the refrigerated beverage dispenser, specifically designed for delivering fruit juices, tea, mineral water, wines, and the like, comprises an inlet 1 to be connected either to the water system for introducing into the device drink water directly coming from said water system, by using the inlet or supplying pressure, or to a natural mineral water vessel, as packaged in PET flasks or bottles, or in the so-called bag-in-box packages of 20 liters, to be pumped under pressure to the inlet 1.

[0013] To the latter it is possible to connect further vessels holding ready for use products, to be taken by suction.

[0014] Downstream of the water or beverage islet is provided a refrigerating device 2, which is advantageously constituted by a conventional refrigerating circuit, including a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, a cooling fan or, optionally, a Peltier's cell exchanger and related thermal dissipating devices, cooling fan and a low-voltage power supply.

[0015] On the delivery duct 5 exiting the refrigerating device 2, is arranged a pump 3, downstream of which is applied a solenoid valve 4, which is preferably driven by blade types of switches.

[0016] Both said pump and said solenoid valve are coupled to a central processing unit 10.

[0017] Said central processing unit 10 is operatively coupled to a delivering actuating assembly 11, which can be of any desired types, depending on the use requirements of the delivering device.

[0018] The product to be delivered is supplied toward a delivering nozzle, generally indicated by the reference number 15.

[0019] To said central processing unit 10, as is clearly shown in FIG. 2, is coupled and inlet 20 for a concentrated product, affected by a concentrated product pump 21 which is provided, downstream thereof, with a solenoid valve 22 for the concentrated product, said solenoid valve being also controlled by said central processing unit.

[0020] The concentrate product 20 is coupled to the duct 5, upstream of the delivering nozzles.

[0021] With the above disclosed arrangement, it would be possible to mix, with any desired doses, he concentrated product with refrigerated water, so as to deliver the mixed product at the delivering nozzles 15.

[0022] The dipping system comprises a food compatible polyethylene tube, having a quick coupled valve for coupling to further vessels, or so-called bag-in-box packages, used both for concentrated products and for wine or other products.

[0023] The carbonated water and carbonated wine dispensers, differently from other embodiments of conventional dispensers, use an accumulation tank, the so-called saturating tank, coupled to a low-pressure CO₂ bottle, said dispensers being also controlled by the mentioned central processing unit.

[0024] More specifically, said central processing unit operates to hold at a desired value the water, wine and gas levels inside the saturating device, and automatically drives a pump for delivering refrigerated water or wine to the saturating device, thereby allowing said refrigerated water or wine to be properly carbonated.

[0025] The wine dispensers, on the other hand, directly suck the wine, cool the sucked wine in stainless steel coils, and hold said wine in a refrigerated condition.

[0026] The delivery control unit will actuate the pumps and solenoid valves for opening suitably arranged cocks.

[0027] In order to assure very high hygienic conditions for all the constructional elements, an auxiliary hygienizing or sanitizing device, generally indicated by the reference number 30, has been moreover provided.

[0028] Said sanitizing device comprises a distilled water tank 31, in which is arranged a micropump 32, controlled by said central processing unit 10, for supplying metered water amounts to a boiler 33 where the product is transformed into product steam and sent through the steam duct 34 to a delivery nozzle.

[0029] Thus, the exposed to air elements or ducts are fully hygienized.

[0030] The operation is automatically managed by a microprocessor, which will actuate a distilled water self-supplied thermal exchanger through said micropump, with preset operating times, after an off settable time of the machine.

[0031] From the above disclosure it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.

[0032] In particular, a dispenser has been provided, which can be fully automatized, to provide an optimum managing of the delivering both of finished products and of products which are prepared at the delivering time.

[0033] The invention, as disclosed, is susceptible to several modifications and variations, all of which will come within the scope of the invention.

[0034] Moreover, all the constructional details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

[0035] In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as the contingent size and shapes, can be any, depending on requirements. 

1. A refrigerated beverage dispenser for delivering fruit juices, tea, mineral water, wine and the like, comprising an inlet for water or a beverage to be supplied, downstream of which is arranged a refrigerating device, a beverage delivery duct on which are applied a pump and a solenoid valve, characterized in that said dispenser further comprises an auxiliary sanitizing device including a distilled water vessel coupled to a micropump for sending water to a boiler coupled to a product delivery nozzle through a steam duct, that said refrigerating device is coupled to a refrigerating circuit including a Peltier exchanger, thermal dissipators, a cooling fan and a low-voltage power supply and that a central processing unit is moreover provided for controlling at least said pump, solenoid valve and said refrigerating device.
 2. A dispenser according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said water inlet is coupled to a water system.
 3. A dispenser according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said water inlet is coupled to a packaged mineral water vessel.
 4. A dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that said inlet is coupled to a vessel therefrom said beverage is taken by suction.
 5. A dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that said refrigerating device comprises a stainless steel coil.
 6. A dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that said refrigerating device is coupled to an evaporator, a condenser, and a cooling fan.
 7. A dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that said dispenser comprises a concentrated product inlet controlled by a pump, downstream of which a concentrated product solenoid valve is arranged, and that said concentrated product pump and valve are also controlled by said central processing unit.
 8. A dispenser according to claim 7, characterized in that said solenoid valve is driven by a blade switch element. 